Recreation revenue, not fees, increasing

To the Editor:

The purpose of this letter is to clarify a section of an article from the Valley Stream Herald on the tentative village budget (“Tax hike looming,” March 29-April 4).

This article stated that recreation fees will increase next year because of the opening of the dog park. This is incorrect. There will be no recreation fee increases in the 2012-13 village budget when it is adopted this month.

It appears that there was confusion about “new revenues” being “fee increases” that led to this misunderstanding. The dog park will bring increased revenues to the village through an annual membership fee, in the same way that other park passes are issued.

The board had decided not to raise recreation fees for village residents at this time. I hope this has cleared that up.

Trustee Vincent Grasso, the liaison to the dog park committee, has done an excellent job working with its members to build a safe, state-of-the-art dog facility at minimal cost. I know that dogs and their owners will love it.

The park should open on May 5. I hope to see you there.

Edwin A. Fare
Mayor
Valley Stream